A step-parent can be just as good as a biological one

Mom met dad the summer before I started school. He was a bit of a wild card, and he liked to drink. Mom saw something in him and she fell in love, and they were married 6 or 8 months or so into the relationship.

During 1st and 2nd grade, dad used to drink fairly heavy. There were a few arguments, but he never touched mom. I don't know exactly what it was that caused him to do it, but he quit drinking completely. I don't know if it was an ultimatum mom gave him or if he made the decision on his own, but he quit.

He assumed the role of father from the beginning. Looking back, I see a lot of him in me as if he was my biological father. We were both stubborn and hard headed, and we clashed sometimes.

There are times where I look back and realize how much he has been there for me. My mom almost died from a tubal pregnancy before I started 6th grade. I remember being scared and crying that mom was going to die and dad held me and told me everything was going to be ok.

All the times he went out and played catch or shooting hoops with me, and taught me about football and baseball.

All the times where we worked on the cars together, and how he tought me how to fix them.

How he taught me how to shoot a gun, and how to be safe with them.

How we was always on my case about doing well in school, and the importance of it.

Always being there at my football and baseball games.

Hearing him shout out his happiness and excitement when I won at state fair my first year in 4-H.

Always hearing him refer to me as his son or his boy.

How he taught me to not go looking for trouble, to find a sensible solution if possible, but to not back down and to defend myself if it came down to it with no other option.

Seeing the love he has given me and my mom.

I just hope that if someday I become a father whether it be biological or step, that I can be half the dad he was, is, and will be to me.